Self Talk: 3 Great Strategies To Improve Your Inner Dialogue

I’m talking about something much more important – a bad habit that can impact your emotional health and even affect your success in every area of your life: negative self talk!

Before we progress any further, take a moment to reflect on your inner dialogue over the past 24 hours.

Unless you have worked hard to create a positive self-image, then the odds are that you have said a few not-so-nice things to yourself under your breath after making a mistake at work or yelling at your kids.

Something along the lines of: “You’re such an idiot.” or “Way to go, loser.” or “Stop eating, fatty.”

Sound familiar?

The truth is that these negative phrases are normally something that we wouldn’t even say to our dearest friends or family members. So why are we talking to ourselves like this in the privacy of our own minds?

Positive or negative self talk patterns can start as early as childhood. And these patterns continue to affect our lives, often determining our daily levels of stress.

And the first step is admitting you have a problem, as the familiar saying goes.

I encourage you to take the next 24 hours to listen to your self talk carefully and to catch yourself in the act of negative self talk. It may happen much more than you would like, and it may be very difficult to control.

1. Use Your Journal

When you notice negative self talk, write down the thought or comment immediately.

Make sure to record what situation triggered this negative comment, such as a stressful circumstance or an emotional day at work.

This article was contributed by Bethany Ramos, a full-time freelance writer who is passionate about personal development. She is pursuing her dream by co-owning her own e-commerce website, The Coffee Bump.